Roxana (Part Two)
Fantomina and Roxana are both about disguise, but Roxana is mostly about the exotic with her French origin.
Roxana takes her name from Alexander the Great's wife. A gentleman at a dance Roxana attended called her Roxana and the name stuck. Roxana describes the Georgian and Armenian dancers at the dance in a way that places them in a lower social class than Roxana. Roxana says their dances are wild and their dresses do not seem as elaborate as Roxana's. Roxana identifies with her dark side in the dance scene.
The relationships Roxana becomes entangled in continue to become deeper and deeper as the novel moves along with her men. Roxana also does not want to emotionally invest herself into her relationships. Roxana's relationship with the Dutch merchant is unfortunate because he loves her so much, especially for who she is, but Roxana refuses his love. Here are Roxana's relationships in this section of the book:
- Landlord/jeweler
- The prince
- The Dutch merchant
Roxana has not lost the ability to love or feel anything anymore, but she does seem to be losing the ability to empathize with other people. Roxana felt bad for leaving her children because she could not financially support them, but now that she has money, Roxana feels guilty.
Roxana and Amy's relationship gets stronger as the novel moves along. Amy is willing to murder, sleep with various men, and do anything Roxana asks her to do. Amy even gives birth to one of Roxana's children. Amy is all that Roxana has left and Roxana is very lonely with the exception of Amy's company. Roxana is somewhat jealous of Amy because Roxana is a "fallen woman" and Amy is still considered virtuous and is still chased by men. To equal their playing fields, Roxana makes Amy sleep with the landlord.
Roxana may be obsessed with talking about "wickedness" and the Devil/religion because she believes she is going throughout her life damned for all eternity because she is so flawed and addicted to her luxurious lifestyle and ways.
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